Election in Russia based on “repression and intimidation”, denounces the European Union

Europe 1 with AFP 5:16 p.m., March 18, 2024

The re-election of Vladimir Putin to the Russian presidency is based on "repression and intimidation", declared Monday in Brussels the head of European diplomacy Josep Borrell.

The presidential election in Russia "was not a free and fair vote", it was "based on repression and intimidation", underlined Josep Borrell, shortly before a meeting of foreign ministers of the EU.

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The presidential election in Russia, after which Vladimir Putin was re-elected with 87.29% of the vote, "took place against a backdrop of severe restrictions, exacerbated by Russia's illegal war of aggression against "Ukraine", underlined Josep Borrell, in a statement on behalf of the European Union, published Monday morning.

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"Russian authorities have continued to increase systematic repression" in Russia, targeting the opposition, civil society, independent media and "and other critical voices through the use of repressive legislation and to prison sentences decided for political reasons", further denounces the EU in this declaration.

The European Union also emphasizes that it will not recognize the result of the "illegal" elections which took place in the Ukrainian territories under Russian control.

“They are null and void and cannot produce any legal effect,” believe the Twenty-Seven.

The master of the Kremlin, in power for almost a quarter of a century, saw his score jump 10 points compared to 2018. The official results are to be announced on Thursday.